Treatment: allow some change in current conditions, but encourage eventual return to original conditions
Desired Future Conditions
The goal of this treatment is to achieve a similar Desired Future Condition (DFC) with moderate deviation from standard strategies & approaches at the Petawawa Research Forest (PRF).
Conceptual diagram of the Resistance – Resilience – Transition (RRT) framework applied to the ASCC Network, positioned vertically along a spectrum of ecological persistence to change (i.e., adaptation). The y-axis presents the degree of alignment with current conditions relative to the future range of acceptable outcomes (i.e., desired future conditions). Graphic by Kailey Marcinkowski, Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science.
Management Goals
The resilience treatment at the PRF will aim to create a well-stocked, multi-aged structure with enhanced species diversity. Photo Credit: Mike Hoepting, Natural Resources Canada.
Create a well-stocked, multi-aged structure (promote species composition of white pine > red oak > white oak > other species)
Maintain/increase productivity and quality of wood products, and diversify wood products, including pine sawlogs
Promote low susceptibility to disturbances, including drought, wildfire, wind, ice storms, insects and diseases
Enhance species diversity particularly among dominant species (including functional diversity, structural diversity, and genetic diversity)
Establish trees adapted to future climate conditions
Increase resilience to low intensity wildfires and reduce susceptibility to stand-replacing wildfires
Manage for wildlife habitat and mitigation of pests by utilizing expanding gaps to create a multi-aged stand with a gradient of light conditions
Strategies & approaches
Irregular shelterwood with expanding gaps
Clearcut gaps 30 m diameter (707 m2; 0.2 acre)
Additional 10 m feathered edge thinned like shelterwood seed cut (1257 m2; 0.3 acre)
Gaps + Edges (0.2 ha; 0.5 acre) allocated to cover 20-25% of the stand area
Gap expansion every 15-20 years
Chemical site preparation (CHSIP) 1 year after harvest for understory vegetation management
In autumn following CHSIP, plant 1400 seedlings/ha (570 seedlings/acre)
420 white pine optimized for 2011-2040 climate
420 white pine optimized for 2041-2070 climate
210 red oak optimized for 2011-2040 climate
210 red oak optimized for 2041-2070 climate
140 white oak optimized for 2011-2040 climate
Allow for natural regeneration of pines and oaks
Tending as needed to ensure survival and growth of target species
Each expansion allows adjustments of species and seed zones to reflect changing climatic conditions and knowledge
The Petawawa Research Forest ASCC study is led by Natural Resources Canada: Dr. Trevor Jones (Research Scientist), Dr. Nelson Thiffault (Research Scientist), Jeff Fera (Forest Research Officer), Michael Hoepting (Silviculture Research Forester), and Tim Barsanti (Forest Technologist) . Additional collaborators include Dr. Lisa Venier (Natural Resources Canada) and Dr. Junior Tremblay (Environment and Climate Change Canada), who are conducting songbird and wildlife usage monitoring with autonomous recording units (ARUs) and camera traps. A three-day workshop to initiate planning of the PRF ASCC site was hosted by The Canadian Institute of Forestry, FPInnovations, and Friends of the Petawawa Research Forest, July 16-18, 2019 in Pembroke, ON. Staff from these organizations as well as researchers and practitioners from the following organizations were part of the team that developed the trial treatments at the workshop and may have long-term involvement in the trial.
Government and Academia:
Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
University of Toronto
Forest Industry:
Algonquin Forestry Authority
Ottawa Valley Forest Inc.
Westwind Forest Stewardship Inc.
Dr. Trevor Jones Site Lead
Research Scientist
Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Wood Fibre Centre
1219 Queen Street East
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, P6A 2E5
Phone: 705-541-5610
trevor.jones3@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca
Dr. Nelson Thiffault Petawawa Research Forest ASCC Site Research Scientist
Research Scientist Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Wood Fibre Centre
1055 du P.E.P.S.,
Sainte-Foy, Québec, QC, G1V 4C7
Phone: 418-454-1976
nelson.thiffault@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca
Jeff Fera Petawawa Research Forest ASCC Site Forestry Research Officer
Forest Research Officer
Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Wood Fibre Centre
1219 Queen Street East
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, P6A 2E5
Phone: 705-541-5616
jeff.fera@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca
Michael Hoepting Petawawa Research Forest ASCC Site Silviculture Research Forester
Silviculture Research Forester
Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Wood Fibre Centre
1219 Queen Street East
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, P6A 2E5
Phone: 705-541-5687
michael.hoepting@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca
Tim barsanti Petawawa Research Forest ASCC Site Forest Technologist
Forest Research Technologist
Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Wood Fibre Centre
1219 Queen Street East
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, P6A 2E5
Phone: 705-541-5687
tim.barsanti@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca
